Gemotions

A tremor ran through Liam’s fingers as he reached for his phone. The notification from the university – a cold, official communication – sat on the screen. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage. He hadn't slept properly in days, and now this.

He reread the email. "Similarity Index: High." That phrase echoed in his skull. The words seemed to warp and twist before his eyes. He felt a desperate urge to run, to disappear.

He slammed his laptop shut, the metallic clang reverberating through the silent dorm room. His reflection in the darkened screen showed a stranger, a ghost of the confident student he once was. He paced the small space, his thoughts a chaotic jumble.